Washing apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing apparatus and to a washing apparatus having a convenient user interface. More specifically, the present invention relates to a washing apparatus that provides a user interface that is concentrated, simple and intuitive. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a washing apparatus may be provided that is characterized by comprising: an annular rotary knob provided for course selection; a display for selectively displaying a course screen showing information on a course selected from within the radial directions of the rotary knob, and an options screen for changing options for at least one wash water temperature; washing intensity, number of rinses, and spin-dry intensity within the course; a switching input part provided within the radial directions of the rotary knob in order to switch between the course screen and the options screen through a selection by a user; and a single variable input part provided to change the options when in the options screen and to make inputs unrelated to the options when in the course screen.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A washing apparatus providing a plurality of wash courses, and provided to change one or more options of a specific wash course on assumption that the specific wash course is selected from the wash courses, the washing apparatus comprising:
 a rotary knob configured to select the specific wash course; 
 a display region provided in an inner portion with respect to a radial direction of the rotary knob and configured to selectively display a course screen for the specific wash course selected through the rotary knob and an option screen for changing the one or more options; 
 a variable input interface provided between the rotary knob and the display region, configured to be additionally selected by the user, independent from the rotary knob and configured to display and select a plurality of input information; 
 a conversion input interface provided in an inner portion with respect to the radial direction of the variable input interface and configured to allow the course screen to be displayed therethrough and selected by the user in the display region according to the rotary knob and the variable input interface and to display the option screen corresponding to the course screen in the display region when the user selects the course screen; and 
 a controller configured to display the course screen in the display region according to rotation of the rotary knob, display the option screen of the course screen according to selection of the course screen of the conversion input interface and display, in the display region, selected input information according to selection of one of the plurality of input information of the variable input interface, 
 wherein the conversion input interface is configured to change the input information displayed on the variable input interface according to the user's selection, and complete setting of the course screen or the option screen displayed in the display region. 
 
     
     
       2. The washing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller determines that the input information displayed on the variable input interface is the input information, when the variable input interface is selected. 
     
     
       3. The washing apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the variable input interface comprises:
 a plurality of light transmission units corresponding to the plurality of input information; 
 a plurality of light sources corresponding to the plurality of the light transmission units, respectively; 
 a single touch portion; and 
 a single switch corresponding to the single touch portion. 
 
     
     
       4. The washing apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the controller selectively controls brightness of the light sources for the user to recognize specific data of the plurality of input information displayed on the variable input interface. 
     
     
       5. The washing apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the controller controls the brightness of the light sources to be at least two levels including a maximum and a minimum or at least three levels including the maximum, a middle and the minimum. 
     
     
       6. The washing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the variable input interface is provided as one or more variable input interfaces and the one or more variable input interfaces are radially provided in an inner portion of the rotary knob to be distinguished from each other. 
     
     
       7. The washing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of input information of the variable input interface include at least one of wash water temperature, washing intensity, number of rinses and spin-dry intensity in the specific wash course and at least one of reservation setting, communication setting, menu setting and pause/stop. 
     
     
       8. The washing apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein at least four variable input interfaces are provided to correspond to the wash water temperature, the washing intensity, the number of rinses and the spin-dry intensity, respectively. 
     
     
       9. The washing apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the conversion input interface comprises a switch operable by the user's press or touch of the display region.